Construction oe artificial legs



miran sraras kann ADDISON SPAULDING, OF LOW'ELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONSTRUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL LEGS.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ADDISON SPAULDING, l

' State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Artificial Leg; and I hereby declare that the following specification, in connection with the accompanying drawings and references thereon, constitutes a lucid, clear, and exact description of the construction and use of the same.

In referring to the drawings, Figure 1, denotes a side elevation; Fig. 2, a vertical and central sect-ion of the same; Fig. 3, a view of one of the knee joints disconnected from the leg.

The nature of my invention consists in my improved artificial leg, to which I attach my improved knee oint, so constructed that the liability of persons falling, who use them is greatly lessened. And my invention further consists in using an india rubber bottom to t-he foot to give the required elasticity to render the movements of my improved artificial leg natural and easy, also in the use and application of an india rubber spring attached to a chain to bring the foot into position, all as hereafter described, and prevents disturbing the cords and nerves of the natural leg.

To enable others skilled in t-he art to which my invention appertains, to construct and carry out the same, I will describe it as follows. I construct the main part of my improved leg of wood as seen at A, B, and

E. These several parts are covered with* hide for strengthening them. On each side of the knee is firmly secured the steel oints C, D, so constructed that little or no wear is experienced on the pins that hold the two parts of the joints together, the joints being so fitted that their whole operating surface receives the pressure and wear when the leg is in use.

At W is a lip formed for the purpose of stopping the joint and lower part of the leg when it is thrown sufliciently forward, and to give the required stability to the leg when the person is standing erect. The projection seen at Z, Fig. 3, stops the knee joint and prevents it from being turned under so as to cramp, and fall the person using it, by coming in contact with the surface of the part D as seen at B2.

At F is seen the spring for giving elasticity to the knee joint. This spring is secured at its upper end, to the leg by the screw O, the lower portion of the spring having a long slot formed in it through which a screw seen at N is fitted to keep the spring in position and allow it to slide.

At K can be seen a spring which is secured to the foot as seen at E by the screw F2, the upper end of it pressing against the inner portion of the leg seen at A for bringing up the foot when the weight or downward pressure is removed from it.

I form a piece of metal as seen at H, which should be securely fitted to the leg A by the screws T and UL To this piece of metal I attach the upper end of the chain seen at G, by means of t-he pin I. The lower end of it is secured to a piece of india rubber J which is placed in a recess formed in the fo-ot, this arrangement operating as the human chord by the elasticity of t-he rubber, z'. c., be a little elastic, so as to prevent the shock which would otherwise come upon the cords and nerves of the stump of the natural leg.

The foot is formed of two parts which are connected together by the pin C2, the toe of this foot being kept downward by the spiral spring P, held at its ends by the screws R, and Q.

To the bottom of the foot I fit, and secure a piece of india rubber or vulcanized rubber, seen at S so as to give an elastic surface at all temperatures of climate to the bottom of the foot which is necessary for the ease and natural motion of the person using my improved leg.

The foot E is connected to the leg A by the metallic joints L, one being fitted to each side of the leg A, and pin M on which these joints turn, this pin passing through both joints, and such portion of the wood as intervenes between them.

I form a recess seen at E2 to receive the trunk of the leg when amputated above the knee. Then amputated below the knee the wood in the lower portion of the top B should be removed s0 as to allow the trunk or stump of the human leg to projectdownward into the leg A, bringing the joint of the human knee on a line with the joint of the artificial one.

I disclaim the knee joints, as patented in France by Ferdinand Leopold John Nov. 11, 1835, wherein the central pins withstand all the wear and shock of the leg when in use. I also disclaim any part, de-

vice or thing embraced in the patent` granted to Jonathan Russell August 17, 1852. I also disclaim the application and use of india rubber as applied to move the leg as in the patent granted to John S. Drake, August 31st1852. I also and finally disclaim the surface of deer skin stuffed with hair and attached to the bottom of the foot, described with the invention patented by B. Frank Palmer, August 17th, 1852, as such will not retain any elasticity when used, but will cake together as hard as the wood, of which the leg is composed.

that I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. I claim the knee spring F, or its niechanical equivalent, for throwing forward the portion of the leg marked A, at each step of the artificial leg, essentially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. I claim the ankle spring K or its methe ground and tipped forward by the operator, to prevent the shock upon the cords and nerves in the stump of the natural leg essentially in the manner and for the pur-- poses set forth.

ADDISON SPAULDING..

Witnesses E. WV. SCOTT, A. P. BENNY. 

